More purse snatchings reported Thursday
JANESVILLE—Two more purse snatchings were reported Thursday to Janesville police.
The first incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. at Shopko, 2500 Highway 14, when a white male grabbed two purses from one cart as two women were walking to their cars in the parking lot.
The second incident happened at 7:30 p.m. as a 65-year-old woman was leaving the Boston Store at the Janesville Mall. When a man ran up to her from behind, he tried grabbing her purse off her shoulder, but she put up a fight, screamed and refused to let go of her purse, which scared him off, said Sgt. Aaron Ellis.
At least three previous purse snatchings have been reported since Oct. 5, according to police. In each incident, the victims told police their attacker is white, tall and wearing a black, red or gray pullover sweatshirt with the hood pulled up.
To prevent these thefts from happening, police suggest:
Paying attention to your surroundings by looking for people just standing around and watching you or others.
Reporting suspicious people to store managers.
Keeping your purse on your body and not leaving it loose in a shopping cart or on checkout counters.
Looking around and in your vehicle before getting in and having your cell phone in your hand as you walk to your vehicle.
